Director Of Strategic Projects

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

• Care and Compassion
• Quality and Teamwork
• Dignity and Respect
• Openness, honesty and responsibility
  
  

Secondment opportunity – initially 12 months

Executive-level role

NHS Borders is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Director of Strategic Projects to join our Executive Management Team on a fixed-term secondment basis. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this pivotal role will add to our existing executive leadership across productivity, benefits realisation and sustainable financial recovery, working closely with the Director of Finance and Director of Planning & Performance. You will provide executive challenge, system insight and value-based assurance, supporting the delivery of strategic priorities while ensuring financial sustainability, improved outcomes and patient benefit across NHS Borders.

This is a senior leadership role focused on strategic delivery rather than operational management, offering the opportunity to shape long-term system improvement and transformation.

As Director Of Strategic Projects, You Will

• Provide executive leadership for productivity, benefits realisation and value-based decision making
• Translate strategic and financial plans into measurable improvements in performance, outcomes and affordability
• Oversee a portfolio of major productivity, cost improvement and income recovery programmes
• Establish and embed robust governance, performance and assurance frameworks
• Challenge the affordability, efficiency and sustainability of operational models
• Lead complex change programmes across clinical and corporate services
• Work collaboratively with Executive Directors, Clinical Groups and external partners
• Present complex and sensitive information clearly to the Board and senior stakeholders
• Champion service change, innovation and continuous improvement
• Ensure alignment with NHS Borders’ values, patient benefit, harm avoidance and equitable access to care
  
  

You will be a credible and influential senior leader with a strong track record of delivering large-scale transformation within complex healthcare environments.

Essential Criteria Include

• Master’s degree or equivalent senior-level professional experience
• Significant experience (minimum 5 years) at senior level within the NHS or healthcare consultancy
• Proven success leading large-scale programmes or Programme Management Offices
• Strong financial, performance and operational management expertise
• Demonstrable experience of delivering major organisational change
• Ability to work effectively with Boards, executive management, clinical and operational teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills
• High-level project and change management capability
• Commitment to equality, diversity and NHS values
  
  

Desirable

• Programme management qualifications
• Experience developing partnerships across health systems
  
  

Why join NHS Borders?

NHS Borders is committed to delivering high-quality, safe and sustainable care for our communities. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at executive level, influencing strategic direction and leaving a lasting impact on system performance and patient outcomes.

We value collaboration, innovation and inclusive leadership, and we are committed to supporting professional development through appraisal and continuous learning.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here. 

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.